Precious metals can be stuck under the surface of the moon – study

Researchers from Dalhousie University in Canada and Carleton University, as well as colleagues from Washington's Geophysical Laboratory, have been able to draw parallels between the mineral deposits found on the Earth and on the Moon.

In a study published in Nature Geoscience, experts suggest that a precious metal deposit could be locked deep beneath the surface of the moon.

"We have been able to associate the sulfur content of lunar volcanic rocks with the presence of iron sulphide deep within the moon," said James Brenan, lead author of the study, in a press release. "The examination of mineral deposits on Earth suggests that iron sulphide is an ideal place to store precious metals, such as platinum and palladium."

Brenan and his team conducted a series of experiments to recreate the extreme pressure and temperature inside the moon to determine the amount of iron sulfide that would form.

Then, they measured the composition of the resulting rock and iron sulphide and confirmed that the precious metals would be bound by iron sulphide, thus making them unavailable for the magmas that flowed on the surface of the Moon during the formation of the satellite. years ago.

According to Brenan, there was probably not enough iron sulphide to form a deposit but enough to explain its (weak) presence in the lunar lava.

In summary, the results of the scientists show that sulfur in lunar volcanic rocks is a fingerprint of the presence of iron sulphide in the rocky interior of the moon, where precious metals were left behind during the creation of lava.

Now, they will need samples of the deep, rocky part of the moon from which the lunar lavas come in order to confirm their findings.